SAFARI
Sasha Payne

Going to the gym with Ken was like being taken to Santa’s workshop and not being allowed to touch any of the toys. Everywhere Angel looked he could see half-naked men: some of them were bulging with muscles, some of them were trim and some of them were positively bearish. Most of them were hot. All of them he’d do except Ken. Angel glanced at his trainer; the older man was glaring at a couple of bodybuilders wandering through on their way to the weight room. Ken always derided them as “meatheads,” but Angel didn’t care about the meat in their heads. Not the head that Ken meant, anyway.

“I hope that lunatic isn’t here,” Ken muttered. “He’d eat you alive.”

Angel grinned. Dan Lyon was the gym’s bête noire, a man whose name was whispered in the showers with a mix of fear and desire. Angel had yet to meet him. Ken went out of his way to avoid training during Lyon’s gym days, but in the run-up to the semifinals Angel’s gym time was being ramped up. Surely he’d run into the gym’s alpha dog sooner or later? Angel wondered what Lyon looked like. Would he be obviously domineering at first sight? Would he be seductive? Lyon’s victims were notoriously unwilling to discuss their very public ravishment, yet nobody left the gym. Nobody called the cops. Nobody even complained to management.

Angel wondered if Lyon would consider him worthy prey. With so much choice would he even attract the attention of the gym’s notorious predator?

“Come on, we haven’t got all day,” Ken snapped.

Angel sighed. With Ken fussing around the chances of his becoming anyone’s conquest seemed dim.

There was a haze of heat in the weight room. The room was full of men, muscular men pushing their bodies hard. Everywhere Dan Lyon looked, he saw muscular, hard bodies gleaming with sweat. There was no chitchat. Just grunts and heavy breathing. The sounds of a heavy workout. The sounds of sex. The breathing got heavier as Dan prowled past men who didn’t know if they should sigh or exhale in relief. Dan was still young, only twenty-three, but he had been the big dog for a long time. He loved that his name was both a wish and a warning. It didn’t matter how you felt about him before he chose you. It didn’t matter if you hated him or worshipped him. He took whomever he wanted, and they were grateful. Pathetically grateful.

Dan was only a little over average height, but people always remembered him as taller, as broader. He had shoulder-length fair hair that fell in a mass of thick, loose curls. His tanned skin shone with a thin layer of oil. Dan didn’t come to the gym just to lift weights, and he always liked to be ready for anything.

There was a small, slim man using Dan’s favorite bench set. None of the regulars would’ve touched it on a bet. The man was older than Dan. Late forties. There were slips of gray in his black hair and tiny, fine lines at the corner of his eyes. Nothing special but nothing awful either. The spotter was shorter, stockier and with cropped gray hair. He was better looking but still nothing too amazing. Really, if they weren’t in his way he wouldn’t bother with them. They were wearing matching sweats. Dan almost rolled his eyes. Cozy couples. They should’ve been at one of those boutique gyms—the sort with a spa and a steam room. The sort for people playing at getting fit. They thought it was funny probably. Being here with the regular folks. Like being on safari. Well, they were going to realize the animals weren’t all toothless.

Dan watched the man at the weights realize he was the center of much nervous attention. The spotter didn’t. The would-be bodybuilder put the equipment back in position and licked his lips.

“Can I help you?” His voice quivered a little.

Dan jerked his thumb and the man sat up quickly.

“Chad!” the spotter said.

Dan saw that there was more anxiety than confidence in his eyes. Andrew was the sort whose nervousness made him aggressive.

“It’s okay, Andrew,” Chad said, sitting up.

“It isn’t! What do you want?” Andrew demanded, glaring at Dan.

Dan sighed. From the other machines someone sniggered. Dan didn’t bother to look; he knew they weren’t sniggering at him.

He stepped forward into Andrew’s personal space. Andrew’s shoulders stiffened but his Adam’s apple bobbed frantically.

“I want your boy off my equipment,” Dan said.

“I’m off! I’m off! I don’t want any trouble!”

“I’m not frightened of some little gym bully,” Andrew sneered.

Dan took another step closer. This time Andrew stepped back, involuntarily. Two more steps forward. Two more steps back. Dan saw Andrew realize that he’d backed himself into a wall. Andrew swallowed as Dan planted a hand on the wall and leaned over him.

“Get down on your knees and suck me off,” Dan said.

Andrew looked over at Chad, who simply shrugged.

“What if I say no?”

“I’m not threatening you, Andrew. Just saying what’s going to happen. You’re going to suck me off. Then Chad is going to lie down on the exercise bench and I’m going to fuck him while you watch. While everyone watches.”

Andrew looked in Dan’s placid, unyielding eyes and sank down to his knees. There was some shuffling as the silent audience sought a better view. Dan didn’t look at them, just at the slim, sinewy man knelt in front of him. He smiled as Andrew tugged down Dan’s shorts over the massive, slab-like thighs and stared. It wasn’t a new reaction. Dan was proud of his body but his cock was his pride: ten inches long, and almost as thick as his wrist. Dan was cut and the purple head glistened in the flickering fluorescent light.

Dan put a hand on Andrew’s head and pushed him facedown, feeling Andrew flinch. Dan could tell that Andrew fancied himself the daddy in his relationship with Chad, which only made doing this all the more fun. Dan put both hands on his head, holding it in place. As Andrew opened his mouth, Dan tilted his head up so that their eyes met.

“Relax your throat,” Dan said, “I like it deep.”

“Doesn’t do it much,” Chad muttered.

Dan laughed and Andrew almost spluttered in protest, wanting to object but gagged by the girth of Dan’s cock.

“The practice will do him good, then,” Dan said. He felt Andrew grip his hips for balance. He filled Andrew’s mouth with his cock, until Andrew had to force his jaw wider to roll his tongue around and suck. Dan rolled his eyes. Andrew was enthusiastic but needed practice. He could see Andrew was distracted too, very aware of their audience, and of Chad watching as he was forcefully fucked in the mouth. Andrew needed some lessons in concentration as well as technique.

Dan winked at Andrew, smiled at his confusion, and then pulled his head forward. Instead of thrusting, the younger man was moving Andrew’s head, using his face like some disposable sex toy. You’re nothing, the wink said. I’m going to do this and there’s nothing you can do about it. You can’t even argue as I use you, as I fuck your face harder, faster and deeper. You might cough, you might struggle with my huge dick as it fills your mouth and throat, and I won’t stop, because I don’t care. Worse than all that, as I humiliate you in front of your lover and dozens of men you don’t know, as I turn you into a receptacle for my spunk, you’ll enjoy it. And I’ll know you do.

Dan’s grip tightened and he felt Andrew tense. He was close to coming. His fingers were wound tightly into Andrew’s hair and he thrust faster and deeper into Andrew’s mouth. Dan came and his come filled Andrew’s mouth. He was vaguely aware of Andrew attempting to shift back, to slip Dan’s flaccid member from his mouth, but Dan automatically held him in place. After a couple of seconds, Dan let out a breath and opened his eyes. He looked down at Andrew, who signaled frantically to be released. Dan just raised his eyebrows, and Andrew sagged, his message received and understood. He opened his throat and swallowed the thick, salty fluid.

Ken folded his arms as he watched Angel practicing on the horizontal bar. It was only getting worse: the more he saw his student, the more he wanted him. Angel was nineteen. Old enough, but sleeping with him would be an appalling breach of trust which would ruin Ken’s reputation. Besides, Angel had already turned him down. That stung, especially as he made eyes at everyone else in pants. The only thing between Angel and complete whoredom was opportunity, not intent. It didn’t help that his appearance matched his name. He looked as though butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. It didn’t take much batting of those huge innocent-seeming eyes to make a man think he was about to deflower some tender little virgin. Ken could see a few now, watching Angel on the bar. If the boy made it to the Olympics he’d be too exhausted to compete.

Ken tore his eyes away from Angel and glared around the room. He had a nagging feeling of being watched and he’d heard too many stories of what went on in the weight room to ignore the sensation.

Instead of the hulking meathead he was expecting, he saw a cute blond twink. Ken tried a smile, and got a grade-A come-hither look in return. The twink sauntered away toward the locker room. He glanced back at Ken over his shoulder, and smirked invitingly. Ken hesitated for a moment, saw that Angel was engrossed on the bars, and then followed the twink.

“What’s your name?” he asked as they slipped into the storage room.

The twink gave him a look.

“No names,” Ken said, “Right.” He unbuckled his belt and drew it from his pants.

“Here.” The twink slid his fingers into the loops of Ken’s pants and pulled him closer. “No names. No small talk. No personal stuff. Just two men, fucking. We good?”

“We’re good.”

Ken took a better look at the young man opposite. He was young, handsome, and arrogant as hell. It wasn’t original and it sure as hell wasn’t rare. Had he ever been that arrogant? He was never that handsome.

The twink unbuttoned his jeans and kicked off his shoes. “You pitch or catch?”

“Switch.”

The twink sniggered. “So you catch but you don’t want to admit it.”

“Little boy, I could bend you over the shelves and fuck you dizzy,” Ken retorted.

The twink shoved down his jeans and kicked them off. “Take your best shot, Dad.”

Dan gestured at one of the onlookers. The man paled and pointed at himself.

“Towel,” Dan said.

“Oh, oh right,” the man said, laughing nervously. “Where’s my head at.” He handed over the clean, red towel hanging over his shoulder. He flushed as Dan gave him a brief, almost cursory glance.

Dan threw the towel to Chad. “Wipe off the bench.”

Chad licked his lips and threw himself into the task, scrubbing every inch of the bench with his towel.

“Hey!” the last user of the bench protested, “I’m not that—” He trailed off at Dan’s look.

Chad fastidiously folded the towel and handed it back to its owner. He’d watched with jealousy and a growing sense of arousal as Andrew had knelt like a supplicant. Now he was oppressively aware of the other men around him as he pushed down his sweatpants. He was aware of Andrew, watching and smirking.

He heard Dan stroll over and felt Dan’s finger walk along his forearm. Chad turned and saw something like a smile or a snarl touch the corner of Dan’s mouth. With Dan it was difficult to be certain, perhaps there was no difference. Dan captured Chad’s gaze until Chad looked away.

“You might say please,” Chad managed.

Dan chuckled, a low, throaty laugh. “You might. Many have.”

Chad licked his lips. “Please?”

Dan nodded at the bench. Chad could feel him watching as he took a deep breath and then bent down, bracing his hands on the bench. Chad felt his ankles being nudged wider apart with Dan’s foot. Then Dan’s hand was on Chad’s ass, pinching the firm skin between his thumb and forefinger. Chad licked his lips, wondering would come next. He heard a slight intake from the men around them and felt Dan’s hand lightly slap his buttock. It was a sting, and then he felt the burst of warmth as blood rushed to the area.

“Hey!” Andrew protested weakly.

“Shut up,” Chad muttered as Dan slapped him again.

“Be a good boy or you don’t get to watch,” Dan said.

Chad heard the rustle and thump of Dan pushing down his pants and boxers to the floor. He shivered when he heard Dan snap his fingers at the general assembly.

“Condom,” Dan said.

A score of foil wrapped little packets rained at Chad’s feet. He heard Dan whistle lightly as he ducked down to pick one up. Chad jumped as Dan flicked Chad’s ass with a finger. Chad raised his head as he heard Dan opening the condom wrapper. Andrew was watching with a mixture of shock and arousal. Chad smiled at his lover and then dropped his gaze.

Dan rested his right hand on Chad’s ass as he reached around to stroke the other man’s cock. Chad shifted his weight slightly; Dan was leaning against him and he could feel his tendons and ligaments stretching. It wasn’t uncomfortable, yet. He almost jumped as Dan grasped his cock in a strong, commanding grip. He grew quickly to hardness as Dan pumped him with swift and brutal expertise. Chad’s head hung down and of his audience all he could see were their feet, but he could hear their breathing and muttered comments.

He felt Dan’s hand grip his hip and then Dan’s cock thrust inside him. Chad moaned and felt himself rock forward onto his palms. He felt himself pushed up onto his tiptoes as Dan’s thrusts came hard and deep. Chad groaned as he felt Dan’s balls slap heavily against his ass, felt Dan’s hand bruising his hip and felt the heat of Dan’s breath on the back of his neck.

Chad squeezed his eyes shut. Heat was pooling in his groin and his awareness of the world was shrinking to his panting breath and hammering heart. Chad’s fingers clawed at the bench and light burst across his closed eyes. He came with a creaking moan, spurting streams onto the floor, the bench and his own shoes. There were sniggers and catcalls from the audience but Chad didn’t hear them. He knew nothing until he gradually became aware of his body moving, of his arms and legs shaking slightly as Dan continued to fuck him. He realized that Dan was holding him in place with an arm around his waist. That arm tightened as Dan came. Chad gripped the bench as Dan’s weight pressed heavily against him, and then was gone. Chad yelped as Dan slapped his ass.

“Don’t take all day,” Dan said.

Chad gingerly turned around and collapsed down onto the bench as Dan pulled up his pants and strolled away.

The twink wrapped his legs around Ken’s waist as he was lifted up and crushed against the wall. He bit at Ken’s mouth as his fingers grabbed at Ken’s hair. Ken’s fingers sank into his thighs as he supported the twink’s weight.

“Come on,” the twink moaned.

“Patience, little boy,” Ken muttered. He shifted position, feeling his arms complain and ignoring it, and then thrust quickly.

The twink threw back his head, banging it against the wall, and tightened his grip around Ken’s waist. His fingers twisted in Ken’s hair, pulling his face closer, as they panted into each other’s mouths.

“Harder,” the twink demanded.

“Shut up.”

The twink laughed and gave Ken a hard kiss. “You wanna pretend I’m your boy, the one on the bars? Fuck that. Look me in the face when you fuck me.”

“You’re nothing like him,” Ken gasped.

“I’m better than him.” The twink dropped his hands and raked his nails along Ken’s shoulders. “He won’t fuck you.”

“You talk too much.” Ken dropped his weight forward as he came, crushing the twink between his body and the wall.

“Next time you’ll have to gag me,” the twink said, pushing his hair out of his eyes. He slid his hand between their bodies to take himself in hand.

“Don’t tempt me,” Ken grumbled.

“Maybe tie me up too,” the twink said, closing his eyes.

“Blindfold?” Ken suggested, lifting his head.

“Helpless.”

Ken pressed his lips to the twink’s ear. “I could tie you to the balance bar. Blindfolded and gagged. Not knowing who was touching you, licking you, fucking you.”

The twink’s feet drummed against Ken’s ass as he came, groaning deep in the back of his throat. He dropped his forehead against Ken’s shoulder and let out a heavy sigh.

“Great.”

“Great for you, I think my arms are about to drop off,” Ken muttered.

Angel hurried along the corridor. He didn’t know where Ken had gone and frankly he didn’t much care. What was playing on his mind was finding the weight room before Ken found him. He didn’t know if there was any fun to be had there but he was damn sure there was no fun to be had with Ken.

As he loped along the cool corridor he attracted plenty of attention, but he had his sights set on a bigger prey. He slipped into the weight room and found the smell of sex and the mild embarrassment of near strangers pushed into intimacy. There were a mix of ages but most of them seemed either tense or sheepish. None of them had the swaggering confidence Angel expected to see from the man he was seeking.

“You lost, lad?” asked one of the men.

“Someone told me Dan Lyon might be in here,” Angel said blithely.

Two of the men at a bench, a couple in matching sweats, exchanged knowing glances.

“You missed him, kid,” the short, stocky one said.

“He’s gone to the locker room,” said the other one.

“Thanks very much,” Angel said nicely, turning to stroll away.

He ignored the bickering that broke out behind him. The locker room wasn’t far away and anticipation put a zest in his step. Ken wouldn’t approve, but Ken didn’t approve of much. Angel suspected that the other man was nervous the infamous Dan Lyon wouldn’t want to screw him.

Angel pushed open the door to the locker room and sauntered in. The room had the same scent of socks, sweat and Axe body spray as locker rooms everywhere. It was empty apart from the leonine man dressing in the corner. He was a little shorter than Angel, but broad and muscular. His thick, fair hair fell to his shoulders in loose curls and there was a stylized tattoo of a roaring lion on his back. Angel let the door swing shut behind him and watched as the other man cocked his head.

“You lost, little boy?”

Angel stepped forward, and realized that the man was standing in front of a speckled and scratched mirror.

“I’m exactly where I was planning to be.”

The man turned. He was handsome in a hard, self-aware way and he looked Angel over with frank appraisal. Although he was only a few years older than Angel he obviously meant himself to be intimidating. He sauntered over to Angel and raised an eyebrow when Angel stood his ground.

“I don’t know you.”

“I don’t know you either.”

“I’m Dan Lyon,” he said. It was said calmly, not a boast but he was expecting the name to be recognized, and the meaning to be understood.

“My trainer makes sure we’re not here when you are,” Angel said. “But today couldn’t be helped.” He shrugged easily.

“He doesn’t want you around me.”

“Or he doesn’t want you around him, I’m not sure.” Angel smiled sweetly. “You’re not a particular topic of conversation.”

Lyon chuckled and shook his head. “He’s not here. You are. Why’s that?”

“Reasons,” Angel said, smiling.

Ken stomped along the cold corridor, his soles squeaking on the hard floor. When he’d returned to the floor there had been no sign of Angel. He’d checked all the little rooms in which Angel could have secreted himself and found nothing. Asking around had got very little information until he reached the weight room where the answers he got had not pleased him.

He grabbed the door to the locker room and yanked it open. He paused before he stepped into the room, listening to the sound of the showers. Ken swore softly and stepped into the locker room, shutting the door behind him. Someone had left open the door between the showers and the locker room, allowing steam to swirl around the locker room and condense onto the cold metal doors. Ken heard a moan from the beyond. He cautiously opened the door and peered into the steamy, humid room.

He saw two young men, naked and soaking wet. The taller had long blond hair pushed back from his face and a lion tattoo on his back. Water poured down his skin, flowed around his muscles and pooled around his feet. The other…the other was Angel. His dark hair was slicked down against his skull and streams of water flowed down his treasure trail and into his groin. The blond and Angel were wrestling for dominance; pushing, shoving, slipping and sliding as they groped, grabbed, kissed, bit, scratched and thrust.

Ken leaned against the door frame. Lyon and Angel were oblivious to his presence. He watched Angel snigger as he pushed Lyon against the wall, and nip as his throat. Angel’s body was slim and toned. Lyon’s hands passed over it hungrily, caressing his thighs, ass and back. How many other men had those hands possessed and how many hands would enjoy Angel? Ken slid his hand into his sweats and wrapped it around his cock. It swelled at his touch, excited at the sight and sounds in front of him.

Lyon’s hands gripped Angel’s ass and pulled him closer, his fingers massaging the creamy, fine flesh. He lowered his face to bite Angel’s shoulder, wide, deep, sucking bites that made Angel grunt and rake his nails down Lyon’s back. Angel’s fingertips caressed the mane of the lion tattoo and ran with the steaming water. Lyon gripped Angel’s thighs and lifted him slightly, bringing the younger man up to his tiptoes. Lyon thrust between Angel’s thighs, his cock sandwiched between the strong, taut legs. He came with a deep growl that made Ken’s breathing deepen.

As Lyon closed his eyes and breathed deeply, Angel stepped back. He wrapped his hand around his cock and used long, deliberate strokes to urge it to completion. He rested his other hand against the wall as he leaned forward. His shoulders shook as his ejaculate pumped out, spattering against Lyon’s stomach and groin. Lyon’s eyes snapped open and stared at Angel in stunned surprise. Angel laughed, and kissed him once. Then turned and sauntered toward the door.

“Enjoying the view?”

“I don’t… I just…”

“I wouldn’t let him catch you there,” Angel said, “he’d eat you alive.”